Last night was Auchentoshan OB 1978 Cask Strenghth at 54.4%, it was not what I expected, almost if the cask had been used to mature Rye before the scotch wnet for it's long sleep. Then before bed a dram of Ardbeg 17.

I sampled the three malts from Jon Mark & Robbo's Easy Drinking Range, i.e. The Rich Spicy, The Smokey Peaty, and The Smooth Sweeter. All very interesting. I'll probably start a different thread to discuss them.

Last night was a Glen Garioch 10 and a Cadenhead's Aberlour 13 year old. The Glen Garioch I quite enjoyed, it was sweet and had some sherry notes, a nice dram for the price. The Aberlour is not your typical distillery bottling and I think it is from a plain oak cask because there was no evidence of sherry or bourbon.

Last edited by Lawrence on Wed Jun 16, 2004 5:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.

<long time listener, first time caller!>penfolds 2002 thomas hyland shiraz. jammy!lately though the 15yo db Longmorn has been hoisted in the evening, although i just got a notice from my liquor store (yeah they call me when they get something good in!) that 10 cases of Lagavulin 16 just came in! WOOT! WOOT!

Last night I opened a bottle of 1991 Glen Scotia bottled by James Mcallister, a bottler I've never heard of. It was what I expected from a Glen Sccotia, a slight buttery maritime malt, a hint of the sea but not too strong. A nice dram for the price.

A couple of islay middleweights last night. First Bowmore 12yo OB, just about done that bottle, and Signatory 12yo Caol Ila, lots left of that one. Nice, full bodied islays but not rip roaring peat monsters.

Yes, the 'new' 12yo Bowmore is much smoother than it used to be. The 12yo used to be pretty rough and as you say, more of an islay peat whisky without the floral notes. I find the floral notes overdone in Mariner these days, however.

Which G&McP Bladnoch do you have? I enjoy the 1988 distilled/2002 bottled one. An '89 14yo Signatory I have now is very good.

I haven't sampled anything since Tuesday. What I did sample is Johnnie Walker Red Label. My notes are here in the tasting forum. I'd like to hear what you think about it-- with comments on blends in general as well.

I like the blends and I've always liked Johnnie Walker Red Label, I find it improves quite a bit with the addtion of water and it you can have it in a wine glass or a brandy snifter you'll be surprised by the complex nose.

I was given a bttles of Bell's a while ago and had read some harsh words about it on this forum so I was pleasantly surprised, again a little water and the right glass and you have a nice dram.

I've been travelling one airline between Canada and Scotland and they only have J&B so I have fond memories of that blend. However it's in a plastic glass glass at 30,000 feet so what do you expect!

Can't say I ever tried Bell's before. I don't think shops here in Michigan carry it because of the LCC. I suppose at 30,000 feet there are no rules!

I have tasted the entire range of Johnnie Walker available in my state....

The Blue Label is outstanding. I first heard of Johnnie Walker Blue when I called a local retailer and asked about a so-called Green Label, which I now know is a vatted malt. At the time I only knew of Red, Black, and the Idea of Green. I thought green was some extremly rare Black Bowmore type only available in Scotland. The sales associate told me of a blue and gold label and I was quite surprised.

The Gold Lable was excellent. It was VERY creamy and when water was added the vanilla and raisin notes are amplified. I read in a pamphlit that I acquired at a tasting that it goes well as a digestif and is best served chilled for 24 hours before serving to amplify smoothness.

The Black Label was satisfactory, however excellent over ice. I tried this blend at a bar with ice and loved it. As for the red, I think it is a good dram, and yields satisfactory marks.

Tried the Dalwhinnie 1981 Distillers Edition. Considering I picked one up for £35 for a litre, I am quite impressed with it.

Can certainly detect a sweet licorice on the nose. A first taste that is light with honeyed flavours that develops into a long, lightly peated, finish. Overall I think it is a thoroughly worthwhile whisky that does have a sherried flavour throughout - certainly one to try!

Last night, and the night before, I had Oban 14 year old. I have tasting notes but their not on me at the moment. It was excellent and reminded me a little bit of Glen Deveron in the maltiness it showed. I like this characteristic in a whisky.

I'm a big fan of the Bunnahabhain OB when I can find it, the Glen Keith is nice but I really like the Bunna. I was at the distillery when they released the 1965 but they were sold out. They had one bottle left but were keeping it for some reason and would not sell it to me. Big tears.

Half-finished a bottle of Tamdhu last week-end, maybe not the most complex of drams, but eminently drinkable Had a small tasting in a Danish shop two days ago, Iona of Atholl, Deanston 6 yrs and a Nikka - forget which type.Bought the Iona and Deanston though....Looking forward to next week-end, a few friends coming together for a malt evening, for my own part I'll be bringing along the Tamdhu, a 12 year old Dalmore, a Glen Moray Chardonnay and the Iona of Atholl. Time will tell what else will show - I expect it to be a thoroughly enjoyable evening!!!!

Springbank 10y 100 proof Nose:no fragrancePalate:sweet at first, then only has the ethyl alcohol taste ,completely does not have the fragranceFinish:lets me want to spitComments:I can't believe it is Springbank.Score:55

Bowmore NAS Dawn has the light Bowmore seaweed taste,the feeling in the mouth concentrates, but cannot very intense, is one kind of quite delightful lovable Bowmore seaweed taste,Score:83

Last edited by Stephen on Sun Jun 27, 2004 1:36 am, edited 1 time in total.

A Pittyvaich from the Flora and Fauna series, maybe a bit heavy influenced on the sherry wood, have yet to determine if I really like this one or not...

The second was a Craighellachie I picked up at the Aberfeldy distillery. I first tasted this distillery while spotting a half full bottle at a shelve in a Kirkwall (Orkney) pub last year, which was absolutely fabulous.

At first I was afraid my bottle was corky, as on the nose the wood tones were getting close to those of cork... But after having a few drams I beging to like this distillery even more and more! Defenitally one of THE discoveries for me, and IMO very much worth to see more available bottled as single malts.

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Welcome to the Whisky Magazine forum, a place where enthusiasts, connoisseurs and professionals can come together to indulge in their passion for all things whisky. Discuss your most recent purchases, reflect on distillery visits and share tasting notes on your favourite drams with other like-minded forum users. Stay up-to-date on the latest industry news and events, and get involved in our regular polls. There’s no better place to get your whisky fix!